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Practice in front of the TV?

#41
KOakley said:
Be aware of bad posture, bad wrist angles, etc. Most people are all slumped over when they are relaxing in front of the TV.
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I usually am standing or sitting on a stool. Can't play in my recliner or on the couch for the very reasons you describe. It begins to hurt if I do.

Hey, when growing up I always did my homework in front of the TV. No problem. Graduated in the top 20% with a 92 average. Also, did it in college and ended with a 3.2 GPR. Not bad.

However, today if my wife is watching one of her reality shows I'd rather go somewhere else. But that goes for anything else I might be doing besides playing bass as well. I hate those shows.
 
#43
JES said:
You do realize that right now, somewhere in the world, some music snob is saying the same thing about whatever music you play and listen to, right?

Thanks to everyone who actually read my query and provided a helpful reply. It's much appreciated.
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Snob? I'm no snob. I "practiced" in front of the TV when I was a kid. When I found myself without one in my late 20's I realized I practiced more and got more done in a shorter period of time.

JES said:
Hi All,
I'm curious if anyone does it, and if so, if you have any useful techniques. I usually watch a show or two with my wife in the evening, but I think she could tolerate some unplugged playing. I could just noodle but if there's something more productive to do while half-distracted, that would be great.
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You asked this^^^ and my opinion based on first hand experience is that "half-distracted" practice of any sort (TV or no) is not very productive. You're looking for validation for a half-***ed approach and I can't give that to you. You get back what you put in and that's not snobbery it's the truth.
 
#44
I don't play while watching TV. I tried it once or twice and found I actually don't like the half-assed distracted feeling of it. I actually annoyed myself with it LOL! I didn't like hearing it while I was trying to watch a show. My wife always surfs the net on her iPad while watching TV. I don't like doing that either. Probably comes down to the fact that I've never been much of a TV guy anyway so I only watch shows that I actually want to see. I don't just sit in front of the TV watching whatever boring fare they offer up at that time.

I do play along with the radio and have found it to be a VERY helpful exercise for developing my ear. Forcing myself to learn whatever song comes on as fast as I can so I can play along to it before it ends has actually improved my interval ear training quite a bit.

Radio: yes. TV: no
 
#45
JES said:
Hi All,

I'm curious if anyone does it, and if so, if you have any useful techniques. I usually watch a show or two with my wife in the evening, but I think she could tolerate some unplugged playing. I could just noodle but if there's something more productive to do while half-distracted, that would be great.

--JES
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Yes I do it ... but it does annoy others watching tv
 
#46
jeffbonny said:
Snob? I'm no snob. I "practiced" in front of the TV when I was a kid. When I found myself without one in my late 20's I realized I practiced more and got more done in a shorter period of time.
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It is snobbish to tell strangers, about whom you don't know the first thing, to get rid of their TVs.

You asked this^^^ and my opinion based on first hand experience is that "half-distracted" practice of any sort (TV or no) is not very productive. You're looking for validation for a half-***ed approach and I can't give that to you. You get back what you put in and that's not snobbery it's the truth.
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I clarified my question in my second post to the thread, which we are allowed to do. I'm sorry you didn't read what I wrote. I know very well it's not a substitute for other playing.

PS -- Michael Manring gave me the idea to do it. He seems like a pretty good bassist to me.
 
#48
JES said:
It is snobbish to tell strangers, about whom you don't know the first thing, to get rid of their TVs.



I clarified my question in my second post to the thread, which we are allowed to do. I'm sorry you didn't read what I wrote. I know very well it's not a substitute for other playing.


PS -- Michael Manring gave me the idea to do it. He seems like a pretty good bassist to me.
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You're comparing yourself to Manring??? Don't.
He also probably practiced another 5+ hours a day for many years NOT in front of the TV. You're just cherry picking to confirm what you'd like to be true.

I don't know you from a hole in the ground but I know you're not practicing any 5+ hours a day. If you were you'd be well beyond needing to ask for ideas on how to practice effectively in front of the TV. Y'know it's well accepted by people who have done long stints of heavy practicing hours that ten minutes of very focused practice benefits you a lot more than two hours of noodling without paying attention. Do a search...it's been discussed in several threads talking about maximizing limited practice time.

But believe what you want and become the player that results from your actions. But maybe next time don't ask if you don't REALLY want people's honest opinions.
 
#49
I can concentrate just as well on my playing with the TV on or off, the same as if I'm looking out the window, looking at the dog on the floor, or whatever. I do, however, always turn the sound down on the TV. THAT would be distracting to me. But the picture is no problem. NO ONE can tell me that it is otherwise for ME. No one has the authprity to call it this name or that name, or put it down in any way. All we can do here is say what works for each of us individually. Don't call it half***** if you AREN'T ME!
 
#51
JES said:
Hi All,

I'm curious if anyone does it, and if so, if you have any useful techniques. I usually watch a show or two with my wife in the evening, but I think she could tolerate some unplugged playing. I could just noodle but if there's something more productive to do while half-distracted, that would be great.

--JES
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Yeah, I do it all the time and the ads are my favorite - so I’ve learned way to many jingles, lol. Just don’t confuse it with practicing.

EDIT: FWIW: For me personally, (besides creating/writing and theory) practicing basically conscience of two things. 1) I practice playing what I know so I can perform it better, and 2) I learn more to practice playing. :)
 
#53
jeffbonny said:
You're comparing yourself to Manring??? Don't.
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Now we're getting into the stupid interlineation-to-score-points part of the argument. I am not comparing myself to Michael Manring and I don't see how you could have read me as saying that, since I've said nothing self-aggrandizing on this thread. I was giving the source of the suggestion. When he made the suggestion to me, neither he nor I were confused about who was the better bass player, or the teacher or student (to be clear, I think he's one of the greatest, most creative living players, and one of the reasons we're in a golden age for the instrument). But I congratulate you on finding a way to insult both of us.

I also don't dispute that 10 minutes of focused practice is better than noodling in front of the TV.

I do dispute this statement you made:

Originally Posted by jeffbonny
Works even better if you unplug it, remove it from your house and don't ever bring it back.
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That's a snobbish comment about television. I disagree, I dislike snobbish comments, so I called you out on it.

I would again like to thank everyone else for their helpful comments and suggestions. I think I will unsubscribe from this thread now.

--JES
 
#55
I do this a lot, I am unable to get in a lot of practice time do to work, college, Girlfriend and my band. Who practices for 5 hrs a night two nights a week and tours Michigan and surrounding states on the weekends. So at night while everyone is sleeping i will turn the tv on and just play something. Mostly I use this time to work on scales and what not. I wouldnt try learning a song or write during this time as you arent really focusing, but it works good for simple lessons. I have in the past sat in front of the tv but had head phones on and worked on songs but my main focus was the song the tv was just a flashing light.

If you like sitting in front of the TV and learning this way then do it. Everyone is going to learn and practice in his or her own way.
 
#56
I do this all the time and it's worked for me. Not in a band anymore, but when I was, a day or two before a gig, I'd run through the entire set a couple times while watching tv. Seemed to help imprint the parts on my brain. I also run through exercises, practice difficult parts over and over, and just noodle around to keep my fingers moving. If I come up with something new, I can easily tune out or turn off the tv as needed.
 
#57
Tupac said:
TM stevens said he played while watching TV so he could learn to distract himself so he could sing while playing.
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I've done something like that for exactly the same reason.

It's one thing to learn a song. It's quite another to learn to play it without paying attention. When focus is exactly what you don't have and can't rely on.

I wouldn't try to learn something new while watching TV or reading a book, but I will very deliberately do those kinds of things when I'm trying to get a song on 'autopilot'.
 
#58
Max Bogosity said:
I've done something like that for exactly the same reason.

It's one thing to learn a song. It's quite another to learn to play it without paying attention. When focus is exactly what you don't have and can't rely on.

I wouldn't try to learn something new while watching TV or reading a book, but I will very deliberately do those kinds of things when I'm trying to get a song on 'autopilot'.
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Yeah, ya need that in order to watch the booties at a gig.:D
 
#60
Erm... I think you just gotta do what works best for you, and don't worry about someone telling you something is a bad idea because it didn't suit them. I've spent many hours in front of the tv with bass in hand, and no one has ever accused me of being a half-@ssed player
 

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